4goto prison in $25M fraud

Victims were told they had won sweepstakes

Since Matthew Pisoni was convicted for his role in running a $25 million sweepstakes fraud, his life took a devastating turn.

His sentencing Tuesday was more emotional than most as his attorneys, family and friends recounted his tragic personal losses in the three months since a jury found him guilty: Pisoni’s 19-year-old son from a prior relationship died of an accidental drug overdose in September; Pisoni’s wife had a miscarriage soon after the August trial.

Prosecutors expressed their condolences but recommended Pisoni should serve the maximum of 20 years in prison for his role in a massive fraud conspiracy that hurt thousands of victims in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and other countries. Many of the victims were vulnerable and elderly.

“This is about other families, too … sons who watched their fathers being defrauded,” prosecutor H. Ron Davidson told the judge. He called it a “repulsive and

cruel” crime that left widows with no money to pay their bills.

Pisoni was one of four South Florida men sentenced in the case Tuesday. They were all convicted of running the fraud, which tricked more than 100,000 victims into believing they had won a prize.

Pisoni, 44, of Fort Lauderdale, Marcus Pradel, 41, of Boca Raton, and Victor Ramirez, 38, of Aventura, were found guilty of conspiring to commit mail fraud, after a five-week jury trial. John Leon, 50, of Wilton Manors, pleaded guilty to the same charge last year and cooperated with investigators.

Supporters stifled sobs in the courtroom when Pisoni’s defense team played a sentencing video that featured footage of the nowdeceased Mason Pisoni speaking lovingly about how he was raised so well by his father. The speech was delivered at his dad’s and stepmom’s wedding.

Pisoni’s wife, Serena Dyer, daughter of the late self-help guru Wayne Dyer, told the judge the 21⁄2 years since her husband was indicted have been marked by “unimaginable loss” for the family. In addition to her miscarriage and the death of Mason, she said family members suffered the unexpected death of her dad, and the loss of their money and reputations. The couple has two daughters, ages 1 and 2.

Friends told the judge that Pisoni irrationally blames himself for his son’s drug abuse and death.

Pisoni maintained his composure for most of his comments to the judge in court, apologizing for what he did but also suggesting he will likely appeal his conviction and prison sentence. His voice broke and he teared up when he spoke about trying to become a better person for his surviving family members.

“The truth is I’m a broken person today,” Pisoni told the judge. “I am so sorry, so terribly sorry for the decisions that I’ve made.”

Prosecutors said the four men mailed letters to potential victims, falsely informing them that they had won a substantial prize and that they would have to pay a fee of $20 to $50 to redeem their winnings. More than 100,000 victims sent about $25 million in response to the letters, investigators said.

Pisoni’s defense team insisted he never intended to break the law and one of the people who testified on his behalf in the trial and at sentencing was an attorney who said he had advised Pisoni that what he was doing was legal.

U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles did not directly address Pisoni’s bereavement when he announced the punishment he was imposing.

Seven years in federal prison was the appropriate punishment given the seriousness of the offense, the fact that the crimes went on for seven years and the need to deter others from committing similar crimes, the judge said. He said he was surprised to learn there have not been more criminal prosecutions of people who sent out similar mailers to victims.

“This whole business scheme, I mean, it’s designed for fraud,” the judge said, rejecting the notion that no crime was committed. “There were no winners, there was never a payout.”

The judge sentenced codefendant Ramirez to seven years in prison, Pradel to 61⁄2 years and Leon to 31⁄2 years. All four men will remain free on bond until they surrender to prison in early January.

After they serve their time, they will be placed on supervised release for three years. All four were ordered to complete 200 hours of community service. And they will also be required to pay restitution to the victims, though the final amount due has not yet been calculated.